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--- title: Create a capacity pool for Azure NetApp Files description: Describes how to create a capacity pool so that you can create volumes within it. services: azure-netapp-files author: b-hchen ms.service: azure-netapp-files ms.topic: how-to ms.date: 10/02/2025 ms.author: anfdocs ms.custom: - build-2025 # Customer intent: "As a cloud storage administrator, I want to create a capacity pool for Azure NetApp Files so that I can manage the storage volumes and configure their performance requirements effectively." --- # Create a capacity pool for Azure NetApp Files Creating a capacity pool enables you to create volumes within it. ## Before you begin * You need a [NetApp account](azure-netapp-files-create-netapp-account.md). * If you're using Azure CLI, ensure that you're using the latest version. For more information, see [How to update the Azure CLI](/cli/azure/update-azure-cli). * To enable cool access, ensure you are registered to use [cool access](manage-cool-access.md). * If you're using PowerShell, ensure that you're using the latest version of the Az.NetAppFiles module. To update to the latest version, use the 'Update-Module Az.NetAppFiles' command. For more information, see [Update-Module](/powershell/module/powershellget/update-module). * If you're using the Azure REST API, ensure that you specify the latest version. >[!IMPORTANT] >To create a 1-TiB capacity pool with a tag, you must use API versions `2023-07-01_preview` to `2024-01-01_preview` or stable releases from `2024-01-01`. * The Standard, Premium, and Ultra service levels are generally available (GA). No registration is required. ## Considerations * If you're using the **Flexible** service level: * The Flexible service level is only available for manual QoS capacity pools. * The Flexible service level is only available on newly created capacity pools. You can't convert an existing capacity pool to use the Flexible service level. * Flexible service level capacity pools can't be converted to the Standard, Premium, or Ultra service level. * The minimum throughput for Flexible service level capacity pools is 128 MiB/second. Maximum throughput is calculated based on the size of the capacity pool using the formula 5 x 128 MiB/second/TiB x capacity pool size in TiB. If your capacity pool is 1 TiB, the maximum is 640 MiB/second (5 x 128 x 1). For more examples, see [Service levels for Azure NetApp Files](azure-netapp-files-service-levels.md#flexible-examples). * You can increase the throughput of a Flexible service level pool at any time. Decreases to throughput on Flexible service level capacity pools can only occur following a 24-hour cool-down period. The 24-hour cool-down period initiates after any change to the throughput of the Flexible service level capacity pool. * Only single encryption is currently supported for Flexible service level capacity pools. * Volumes in Flexible service level capacity pools can't be moved to another capacity pool. You also can't move volumes into a Flexible service level capacity pool. ## Steps 1. In the Azure portal, go to your NetApp account. From the navigation pane, select **Capacity pools**.  2. Select **+ Add pools** to create a new capacity pool. The New Capacity Pool window appears. 3. Provide the following information for the new capacity pool: * **Name** Specify the name for the capacity pool. The capacity pool name must be unique for each NetApp account. * **Service level** This field shows the target performance for the capacity pool. Specify the service level for the capacity pool: [**Ultra**](azure-netapp-files-service-levels.md#Ultra), [**Premium**](azure-netapp-files-service-levels.md#Premium), [**Standard**](azure-netapp-files-service-levels.md#Standard), or [**Flexible**](azure-netapp-files-service-levels.md#Flexible). >[!NOTE] >The **Flexible** service level is only supported for manual QoS capacity pools. * **Size** Specify the size of the capacity pool that you're purchasing. The minimum capacity pool size is 1 TiB. You can change the size of a capacity pool in 1-TiB increments. >[!NOTE] >[!INCLUDE [Limitations for capacity pool minimum of 1 TiB](includes/2-tib-capacity-pool.md)] * **Throughput** This option is only available for Flexible service level capacity pools. The minimum value is 128 MiB/second. Maximum throughput depends on the size of the capacity pool. For calculation details, see [Considerations](#considerations). * **Enable cool access** This option specifies whether volumes in the capacity pool support cool access. For details about using this option, see [Manage Azure NetApp Files storage with cool access](manage-cool-access.md). * **QoS** Specify whether the capacity pool should use the **Manual** or **Auto** QoS type. See [Storage Hierarchy](azure-netapp-files-understand-storage-hierarchy.md) and [Performance Considerations](azure-netapp-files-performance-considerations.md) to understand the QoS types. > [!IMPORTANT] > Setting **QoS type** to **Manual** is permanent. You cannot convert a manual QoS capacity pool to use auto QoS. However, you can convert an auto QoS capacity pool to use manual QoS. See [Change a capacity pool to use manual QoS](manage-manual-qos-capacity-pool.md#change-to-qos). * **Encryption type** <a name="encryption_type"></a> Specify whether you want the volumes in this capacity pool to use **single** or **double** encryption. See [Azure NetApp Files double encryption at rest](double-encryption-at-rest.md) for details. > [!IMPORTANT] > Azure NetApp Files double encryption at rest supports [Standard network features](azure-netapp-files-network-topologies.md#configurable-network-features), but not Basic network features. See [considerations](double-encryption-at-rest.md#considerations) for using Azure NetApp Files double encryption at rest. > > After the capacity pool is created, you can’t modify the encryption type. :::image type="content" source="./media/azure-netapp-files-set-up-capacity-pool/flexible-service.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing the New Capacity Pool window."::: 4. Select **Create**. The **Capacity pools** page shows the configurations for the capacity pool. ## Next steps - [Storage Hierarchy](azure-netapp-files-understand-storage-hierarchy.md) - [Service levels for Azure NetApp Files](azure-netapp-files-service-levels.md) - [Azure NetApp Files pricing page](https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/details/storage/netapp/) - [Manage a manual QoS capacity pool](manage-manual-qos-capacity-pool.md) - [Delegate a subnet to Azure NetApp Files](azure-netapp-files-delegate-subnet.md) - [Azure NetApp Files double encryption at rest](double-encryption-at-rest.md)